Wheeled elevating device



U. E. HEINENESSY.A WHEELED ELEVATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1918. c

llmtented Nov. 23., 19M] 2 SHEETS-SHED ifa/ness Hmmm WHEELED ELEVA'TING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED SE?T.15| 1918.

Patented' Nov. 23, 1920.

fuiven A BamwZEHennQ/ss UNiTED sr'a'iiazsl PATENT orifice.'A

DANIEL E. ,HENNEssm oF HoLYoxEi, usssACHusETTs, l.asslcnvon To THE sTUimI- TRUCK COMPANY, or NCRTRAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CoRPoaATIoN or MAssACHUsETTs.

WHEELED AEIlEvA'rI'Ne DEVICE.

/ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteanw 23, 192.0.

Application led September 16, 1918.1' Serial No. 254.239.

and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Wheeled Elevatmg Devices, of which the following description, in? connection with the accom-I panying drawings, is aspecifieation, like l0 characters on thedrawingsfrepresentng like parts. I

This invention relates to wheeled elevating devices, and more particularly to elevating trucks, the object being to produce a simple, efficient construction.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of `one lspecific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Figure 1 isa side `elevation partly in longitudinal section'showng an elevating truck embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 isa plan View of the truk shown in Fig. 1; l i" Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal section in :i0 elevation showingr parts associated with the steerin ,f iffhead Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional elevation ,of the same portion of the truck;

Fig. 5 is a detailshowing;r the liftingr mech- 'auism in a different relation from whatis shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. (i is a similar View show-ing the lifting mechanism in still another position.

Referring to the drawings and to the ein- T'bodiment of the invention which l have there selected; for illustration, the truck there shown comprises a single load-supportingframe or platform 1() of'i'generally rertanguy lar outline mounted upon suitable wheeled supports. The `forward end of the truck is mounted upon a wheeled support consistingI of the singlewlieel l1 journaled in the forked member-'12 (Figs. 3 and 4). The rear wheeled supports comprise the two truck wheels lli- 13 secured to the axle 14.,

To elevate the.load-sustaining;i platform, the rear end of the platform has a niovable connection to the rear truck wheels 13. this' connection herein consisting of the sleeved member 15 in which the axle 14 is journaled,

the sleeve beingr provided with( a pair of arms 16 connected toa second sleeve 17 adapted to turn upon a fixed shaft or rod 18 carrzed by ears 19 depending from the platform 10. Connected tothe sleeve 17 is a pair of upright arms 20 having a jointed connection to the forwardly extending` reach rod or lilik 21. The relation of these parts is such that if the reach rod is drawn forward. the sleeve 17 is turned about its pivotal sup-A port in the frame, tendingr to lift the latter and elevate the frame relatively to the wheels, the parts assuming the dotted-line position indicated in Fig. 1.` Opposite movement of the reach rod isV accompanied by aV lowering movement of the platform from the dotted-line position tothe full-line position shown in Fig. 1. At its forward end the reach rod 21 has a jointed connection to the arms 22 of front bell-crank members, the inclined bell-crank arms 23 terminating` each `in a cam-shaped member 24. When the front end of the truck is lifted the` members 24 are brought into contact with fixed parts on the front wheeled support and ca'use the simultaneous elevation of the rear end thereof.

Referring now to tlieelevvating and steer;

y 30 which isherein rigidlyconnected to the platform 1() to provide a swiveled support between the platform and the wheeled sup port 11.` Within the steeringl head the wheel fork 12 is provided with an upwardly extending sleeve-shaped member 31, there being a necked-down portion between the'fork and the sleeve about whicliis secured the encircling Handed member 32, the latter, however, being capable of `a relativeturning movement on the fork. Between the steering liead il() and the upright sleeve 31, there is provided an intermediate sleeve member 33 which has siuzlrconneetion with the u pright sleeve 31, by the keys 34; (see Fig. 2i), that the inner and inteimediate sleeves turn together as one member, while perinit ting the vertical sliding or liftingr movef ment ot' the intermediate sleeve 33 relatively to the inner sleeve 31.

The connection between the intermediate sleeve and the steering head, however, is such that the intermediate sleeve is permitted to vfreely turn within the head, but the Steringhoad and intermediate sleeve are sov fastened-that they move hp or down togethers This result may be 'secured in any desired way,

collar 36, intermediate sleeve 33 and supever, .while rotatable 15 collar with portingwheel 11,' therefore, turn as a unit.

he intermediate sleeve and` collar, howwith relation to the lsteering. head 30, are. longitudinally fixed with relation thereto in virtueof the flanged end 35 and the abutting engagement of the the upper;r end of the steering head, l and are, therefore, adapted to move longitudinallyand raise or lower as a vumt f with .the platform or steering head. The

lower ange 35 has a bearing on the upper face of the 'flanged member'32.

broadl teeth and broad! toothed pawl 42 pivoted at 43 between 40 ing andfsteering .`turn,. i.s pivoted at ,I 5)', the

lTo raiselor lower the steering head .upon

any suitable herein I have of a ratchet or of which is Ses shown in' thedi'awings (Figs. `3, 4 and ratchet or, rack 40 is secured to the hea'd orplate 41 which is bolted to the upper endof. the sleeve 31 and forms a clo- 1sure for the space within the same,v as will more fully appear;-

The ratchet is in the toothed vrack having .form of. an .upright adapted to engage with a the.' twoforked.armsv44 of the combined lifthamne 45, The meer, in 46 upon the upright ears 47. wh1ch project upwardly from the collar 36 (Eig 4.) and carry between them also the bridgeor archipiece 48. "The handle 45 (Figs, 1 and 2) is of any suitable shape or size, so that it may be'conveniently raised or l lowered forlifting the other fOlSteering -the truck. -The ears i ,pqltlons 49 and 5() which mentsy ofthe handle and stantially horizontal or and swung to'one side or 4'( are preferably `provided withshouldered cperate with the lugs 5,1 on the ,side of the-handle forks 44 so as to limit theupward and downward moveposition it in subvertical positions when .not -in ,use for lifting. The pawl 42` is` pivoted upon the handle forks eccentricall y, sothat as the handle' is first raised d i 4thepavvlmay be brought into engagement .59

toothof the rack,

As it is depressed, the: pawlmoves from some l such position as shown inv Fig, 5to' that shown n Fig.1 6,

` liftin r' the parts inclu ing the. ears 47,. collar 36, sleeve and; platform 1.0.,

connected to the handle,I

It will be observed that but herein the sha arm 5 5 carrying the when the as the handle moves from its upper position .to the depressed position, the pivot oi the pawi, approaches closely to the rack and the {iwlfSSumes amore nearly verticnl posi.- tin, providing a toggle action.

erein the pawl may be resiliently pressed toward the teeth of the rack by means of the pivoted arm 52 which presses against the back of the pawl, the' arm being secured lo the shaft 53 pivoted in the adjoiningr npright ear 47 and being normally springpressed by means of the coil spring 54, es shown in Fi 4, to force the paw] toward the rack. Vt yien desired, however, the pawl may be freed fromengagcnient with the teeth of the rack, permitting thc iever to be swung up or down at wiil without aiecting the position of the rack.' Any suitable means may bev em loyed for this purpose,

throw-ont plate` 56, und havingprotruding from the end of the arm Athe beveled end of the spring-pressed 1pin 57. When the plate 56 is pressed the position shown in Fig. 3, the pron pin 57 snaps past a laterally projectie tionary pin 58 secured to the adjoinin 47, this serving' to hold the plato 56 and pivoted arm 52 in the position shown iiL .3 until reverse pressure is applied to ...ic plate suilicient to snap the pin 5'4" up pas-: the stationary'pin,58wherenpon the parte assume the position shown in Figs. 5 und 6 and press thel pavvl Fcsiliently toward the teeth of the rack. The plate. can be actuated. in either direction -by applying thereto n slight pressure either of the hand or thel foot, so that the liftingr mechanism can be quickly and readily thrown into or ont of operation.

The lifting of the front end of the plat form is, therefore, acconnilishcd by reciprocatively moving the lifting handle up and down, the pawl engaging a fresh tooth with each upward movement oi the/handle and causing the elevation oi the collar B6 and pressed.

lAs the collar 36 and attached paris are raised step yby step, they are automaticallv held against a lowering movement. bv suitable means. such asthe lockiinr dog; this being inthe torni of a lfshnped n ber slidable ho1izont:-ill- .in the bridge picco 48 and havingits ends suitably shaped to enter between and engage with the tooth of the rack 40 and prevenL the 'latter from ropping. The shape' of the teeth is such that the lifting movement of theI rack anto matically forces the dog outwardly. but dog enters between the teeth the rack is locked thereby against downward movement. To resilientlypress the dog into locking engagement with the teeth o1 the rack, it herein ':u'r"::?-:in u socket formed 53 hassecnred lx) it an down nio between the walls 6l of a controlling member, the latter .being pivoted at 62 upon the collar 36 and being normally moved by the coil spring 63 so as to force the dogr n- 'Wardly against the rack. The controlling' member is provided with the projecting arm 64 so arranged that it may be depressed at f' any time to withdraw the locking dog and I Jered to its lowest allowthe rack and the attached parts to descend. When the platform is elevated. it can, therefore, be left in that position when the lifting handle is disengaged from the elevating device, leavingr ,the latter free to be used to steer the truck. As soon as it is desired to lower the load, the platform can (ble instantly released for lowering movement ,by pushing the releasing' lever (il downffivardly. When the platform has been lowposition, the locking` pawl Ofl and throw-out lever G4 will automatically move back into place as soon is withdrawn from the lever.

It will be seen that the forward end of the truck is lifted by a linear vertical lifting,r movement. The lifting` movementv of the front end of the platform, however, carries with it the bell-crank levers 23 which are pivoted thereon. The cam members 24 are thereby caused to press against bearinp,r

' 70 arranged at diametrically opposite as the' pressure walls points on the flanged bearing member '32 and, as the lifting movement continues, this swings the bell-cranks on their axes, drawing the reach rod 2l forward and liftingr Athe rear end of the truck simultaneously and equally with the forward end thereof. When the platform is fully elevated, the -rear crank arms 16 and 20 assume positions which bring the shaft or rod 18 in a suhstantially vertical line over its position when thetruck is lowered, so that the lifting,

movement of the rear end of the truck, aswell as the forward end, is'in an approximate vertical direction.

T he split bearing member 32 embraces the V upright wheeled support between the forks 12 and the upright sleeve 31, being prevented from movingr up on the sleeve by the shouldered portion thereof which overlies the bearing member 32. The latter, however, is prevented from turning with the wheeled support as the latter is swung about its axis, by means of a vertical rib 80 (Figs.

@and 3) which is formed on the apron or side of the platform l() directly in front of lthe supporting Awheel 1l, and which works between a forked projectingr piece 81er:- tending' forwardly from the split bearing member 3Q. As the platform is raised or lowered, the rib 80 has a continuing en- .gagement'with the forked projection, maintaining the bearing member in fixed lalinement with relation to the truck.

Herein I have also shown associated with the lifting mechanism, a check devine in the Ahave herein shown and' .form of a liquid check. To provide such liquid check, herein the upright sleeve meming as a cylinder head provided with a stuifing box 7 5 through which the piston rod 76 passes. The upper end'of the piston rod is rigidly connected to the bridge piece 48 on the collar 36, while the lower end is secured to thev piston member 77 working within the cylinder, theespace above the piston bein filled with some suitable liquid such as oi As the platform is raised and the piston 77 moves upward in the oil chamber, the oil passes into thefrradually increasing space below the piston either through leakage or clearance spaces providedor through other suitable valve passages such as the valvecontrolled passage 78. VVhen the raised platform is allowed to descend, the body of oil will check its descent, the oil escaping,r slowly through the clearance space around the piston 77 into the upper oil chamber and allowing the slow, gradual descent of the platform.

It willbe seen that the handle 45, being swiveled upon the collar 36, may be turned to any position .about the upright steering` axis, while at the same time being, available in any such position to effect the lifting movement of the platform; The construction herein described not only provides va simple but effective and powerful elevating truck, -but permits the disposition of the load close to the steering head and avoids all obstructions between -the wheeled suppoi-'ts and below the lifting platform which ordinarily interfere with the use of such a truck where sharp inclines are encountered.

While l have herein shown one form of my invention embodied in an elevating truck, many of the features thereof may be yembodied in a wheeled lifting jack, such,

for example, might consist of a steering head with its front-wheeled support only, the liftingl frame comprising a toe or foot secured to the` steering head and adapted to be placed under and elevate .one end of the load only.

Other applicationslof the generic features of the invention, may be made, -`and while I described for purposes of illustration 'one specific form of the invention, it is to be understood that the same may be varied as to the form, construction and relative arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the broad spirit thereof.

Claims: l. In airelevating truck, the combinationv with a supporting frame and platform having` front and rear wheeled ,supports, of` means for elevating,r the frame/ther l prising a toothed member y cured to said wheeled suppoit to lift the wheeled support, a 'combined steering and lifting lever on the frame, and a pawl eccentrically mounted' on said lever and adapted to engage the toothed member to move the same and elevate the frame relatively to the front wheeled support and the toothed member.

2. An elevating truck having wheeled supports at' the opposite ends thereof, a main frame constituting both an'elevating platform for they load and a connecting frame for the wheeled supports, an upright member secured to the front wheeled supportand having swiveled connection with the main frame, the latter being capable of lifting movement with relation to said upright member, and means for lifting the front end of the frame with relation to said upright member,

with its pawl engaging the teeth of the rack connected to the other parti, said lifting handle beingmounted to turn said forward wheeled Support in its swiveled connection and steer the truck.

3. In an elevating truck, the combination with an elevating platform, of av wheeled support, a steering head in which said wheeled support "is swiveled, a member adapted to lift with said platform and to turn with Said wheeled support, a lifting,

lever pivoted to said member, a part connected to said swivcled support, and a step -by step lifting device carried by said lever adapted to engage directly with thepart seplatform relatively thereto.

4. In an elevating truck, the combination with an elevating platform member of a' wheeled supporting member having a swiveled .connection to the platform, lifting vmeans to lift the platform about its swi veliiig axis relatively to the wheeled supporting member and including a combined lifting and steering lever mounted on one of said members, a pawl carried vby said lever and a part mounted on'theother of said members and adapted to be engaged b v'said 5. In an elevating truck, the combination with an elevating platform, .of a wheeled support swivcled therein, lifting means including a combined lifting and steering Y with relation to said said means including a rack, connected to one part and a'lifting handle to the upiiglit member to turn tnerewith but capable of vertical movement to lii't"'\vith said steering head, a combined lifting andl steering lever pivoted to said turning and lifting member, a pawl carried thereby. and amember secured to said upright member and adapted to be engaged by said pawl to lift the platform with relation thereto.

'i'. In an elevating truck, the combination with a wheeled support of an elevating plat-- form in which saidwheeled support is swiveled. means for lifting the front end of said platform with relation to said wheeled support, means for lifting the rear end of said platforn'i, said last-named iii-ans including a vertically fixed bearingdevice non-rotatable elevating platform, and a member adapted to be raised by the lifting movement of the fi'oiit end of said platform and adapted to engage said vertically fixed bearing device. g

8. An elevating truck comprising loadsupporting means and a wheeled support, the foi-'mer being capable of a' lijfting movement Arelativelyl to the latter and the wheeled support being swivcled in the load supporting means, steering mechanism including a combined steering and lifting lever mounted `to swing vertically` means operated b v the movement of said lever to raise said loadsupporting means including two engaging,

supporting means adapted to lift therewithrelatively to the tirst toothed member when the lever is moved vertically, and a vertically arranged dash pot connected between the load-supporting means and the wheeled support.

9.- An elevating truck comprising vloaidsupporting means and a wheeled support with steering mechanism including a -combiiied steering and lifting lever mounted to swing vertically, means operated by the movement of said lever to raise said loadsupporting means relatively to' the wheeled support lincluding tivo engaging, toothed members, one mounted on the wheeled support and the, other on said load-supporting means and adapted to lifttlierewith relatively to the-first toothed member when the lever is moved vertically, connections between tlie steering lever and the wheeled support, to turn the latter about an upright steering axis and a dash pot located ;in the steering axis,

10. ln an elevating truck, load-supporting means, a wheeled support swivcled therein, a combined steering and lifting handle mounted to swing vertically and adapted to turn Said swivcled wheeled support, means operated by the movement of said lever lto raise said loadsupporting means about its swiveling connection to said wheeled sup- `port andincluding two engaging toothed members, one mounted-on the wheeled support and the other on said load-suplorting means and adapted to lift therewl rela tively to the first toothed member when said lever is moved vertically.

11. An elevating truck comirising load- .a movement of the lever; `a toothed member y engaged by 'said pawl, and mounted on the wheeled support and-a `lifting member adapted to communicate the lifting movement to said load-supporting means, said lifting member being coaxlal with said steering head and having a lifting movement relatively to the wheeled the toothed member.`

12. An elevating truck comprising a liftin frame, a wheeled support, `a combined li ting and steerin lever mounted to move with said lifting rame, a toothed member mounted on said wheeled support with relation to which said frame has a lifting movement and a toothed member engaging the same and adafited to be moved by the vertical movement 0 said combined steering and lifting member..

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

ANIEL E. HENNESSY.

support and j g 

